Scottish Folk News

The new releases keep coming! Thanks for your continued support of Scottish culture.

1. New at Foot Stompin': includes Session A9, Mary Ann Kennedy and Na Seoid, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson
2. Book of the week: Doh Ray Me When Ah Was Wee
3. Snippets: Karine Polwart New Album Tour
4. Music Short Courses at Sabhal Mor Ostaig
5. Community Song Groups in Scotland
6. CD Reviews: Margaret Stewart, Calum Kennedy
7. FREE Ringtone: Jenna Reid
8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum: includes Fancy Tricks; Celtic Connections on TV?
9. Events

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1. New arrivals at Foot Stompin' Celtic Music (10% discount on all sales after first purchase.)

CD OF THE WEEK: CRACKIN' MUSIC!! Bottlenecks and Arm Breakers - Session A9: At last, a follow-up CD from this much-admired band. Skilful and inventive playing plus great tunes as befits a band with some of Scotland's finest musicians including fiddlers Charlie McKerron, Adam Sutherland, Gordon Gunn and Kevin Henderson. Bottlenecks and Arm Breakers is Session A9's first recording since their acclaimed debut album of 2003 "What Road?" Really excellent music! £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/fiddle/bottlenecks_and_arm_breakers

DOUBLE TROUBLE!! Partners in Crime - Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson: "Separated by the Irish Sea, their common crime is having long hair and playing brilliantly on the bellows pipes - Ainslie on the Scottish Border or Lowland instrument, Henderson on the Uilleann. Huge technique (also on low whistles), adventurous contemporary rhythm, most of the compositional credits and solid studio support from some of Scotland and Ireland's top instrumentalists makes this a benchmark for the new generation" Scotland on Sunday. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/bagpipe/partners_in_crime

THE HEROES!! Mary Ann Kennedy and Na Seoid: Singer, harpist and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy has marshalled this group of seven brilliant young male Gaelic singers and musicians under the name of Na Seòid (The Heroes) and they are totally brilliant! James Graham, Griogair Lawrie, Tormod MacArthur, Norrie MacIver, Calum Ailig MacMillan, Gillebride MacMillan and Angus MacPhail. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/mary_ann_kennedy_and_na_seoid

UPLIFTING!! Elevate - Fiona MacKenzie: A solo CD from star of the future Fiona who is also a member of the Gaelic singing group The MacKenzies. Traditional acoustic instruments and electronic elements blend to create a forward-thinking music that remains rooted in heritage. Fiona Mackenzie's emotive self-penned lyrics paint a picture and the sound at times is hauntingly Celtic. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/elevate

HOT OFF THE PRESS!! The Long Notes - Jamie Smith: London-based Scottish fiddler Jamie Smith has teamed up with piano accordionist Colette O'Leary former member of popular Irish band The Bumble Bees and London Irish banjo player Brian Kelly for this CD. Together they deliver some great sets of lively foot tappin' trad music. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/fiddle/the_long_notes

JUST A SEC!! Moments of Time - Phamie Gow: Phamie is a talented multi-instrumentalist and composer particularly known for her harp playing. On this album however she exhibits her skills as a pianist with twelve of her own original compositions for the piano. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/moments_of_time

WATER MUSIC!! Skimming Stones..Sinking Boats - Iain Morrison: Hebridean born singer/songwriter/piper Iain Morrison has a refreshing, idiosyncratic approach to music. He has an ear for melody and a heart for pushing the boundaries. "His softly-sung narratives have a deceptive potency"and "It's all thoughtful, enjoyable and oddly affecting" are just two of the critiques for his first album. This one is equally potent. £11.25 (£12.50 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/skimming_stonessinking_boats

More 'new arrivals' at foot Stompin': http://www.footstompin.com/collections/new

2. BOOK OF THE WEEK: Doh Ray Me, When Ah Wis Wee - Ewan McVicar: Over 800 Scots lyrics taken from publications and unpublished collections from the 1820s to 2006 include the stories of Coulter's Candy and Aunty Mary's Canary; the ancient pipe tune that became 'London Bridge is Falling Down' and the Scots ancestry of 'The Mulberry Bush', 'The Hokey Cokey' and 'Old King Cole'. There are songs for skipping, hand-clapping, games, guises, wordplay and trickery. Ewan McVicar, one of Scotland's best-known storytellers and song writers, has collected songs in over 40 Scottish schools to create the first publication of the 'hidden' songs of Scots childhood. £13.49 (£14.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/books/doh_ray_me_when_ah_wis_wee

Rereleased: The Better o' a Sang - Jim Reid. We are happy to report that this book is back in stock after being out of print for a wee while. Reels, jigs, pipe marches and songs written and collected over a lifetime with the stories that go with them. Includes The Wild Geese and other favourites from Angus folk singer Jim Reid's amazing repertoire. £11.70 (£12.99 for first time customers)
http://www.footstompin.com/products/books/the_better_o_a_sang_book

3. Snippets
Music Club Opening in Edinburgh 8th March
"Club Galore",the new late night maverick live music club hosted by Iain MacLeod (ex Shooglenifty) and Alan McClements. Great music at The Caves (South Niddry St.) 10.30pm-3am. Excellent opening night line-up.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118537

Karine Polwart New Album Tour
The fabulous Karine Powart "This Earthly Spell" tour kicks off with a full band show at Kendal Brewery Arts Centre on March 6th. Then with her trio she has a full schedule through to the end of April which will be taking in Scotland, England and Germany. For the full dates:
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118481

Tinto Summer School 2008 is taking bookings
Tutors are all booked and we're now taking applications - check out the website for full details of this amazing annual summer school!
http://www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tinto/

Fiddler Alasdair White wins prestigious prize!
Battlefield Band's fiddle maestro, Alasdair White, has won the World Traditional Music category in the 7th annual Independent Music Awards for his album An Clàr Geal. It was selected by various esteemed music industry judges including Joe Boyd, Charlie Musselwhite, Ray Davies, Angelique Kidjo & Mavis Staples
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118434
An Clàr Geal: http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/an_cl%C3%A0r_geal_the_white_album

Tom Sloss RIP
Tom Sloss was a popular singer guitarist from Uist in the Western Isles. Tom has the rare, almost unique ability to perform at a high level with Gaelic, Scottish, Country right through to rock. http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118396

John Wright RIP
John of the John Wright Band has died very suddenly. Well established on the European acoustic-roots music scene, John was renowned for his ability to pick great songs to sing which he performed with passionate sincerity. http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118212

4. Music Short Courses at Sabhal Mor Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland's award-winning Gaelic College on the island of Skye, is a unique learning environment. They have taught 5-day short courses for over 30 years and full-time courses for over twenty years. They offer the opportunity to learn new skills in a relaxed yet lively environment. Sleat is beautiful all year round and particularly so during the summer months. Fèis an Eilein, an innovative traditional music festival, is hosted by the College in July and includes a wide variety of events.
They also have en-suite Bed & Breakfast accommodation available on site.

Checkout their range of courses which include Gaelic song with Rachel Walker, Button key accordion with Fergie MacDonald, Piano accordion with Addie Harper Jnr., and Alasdair Fraser's ever-popular 'fiddle week'.

Details of the Gaelic and Traditional Music Short Courses for 2008 at Scotland's Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye: http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/cg/clarama.php

5. Community Song Groups in Scotland
Groups specialising in 'Singing for fun' have been popping up all over Scotland since the early 1990s. Characterised by their welcome to new singers, however unconfident and offering styles of learning that do not depend on ability to read music, such groups are an essential part of the contemporary Scottish musical scene.

What is a Community Song Group?
Community Song Groups first developed as we now know them in Scotland in the 1990s. Bringing people together who share a joy of singing, and who wish to combine this with a love of traditional song, seems a simple concept. Today, it seems surprising that it took so long to come about...
Check out the list of Community Song Groups which currently meet in Scotland - there may be one in your area: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/scottishsonggroups

6. Reviews
CD: Margaret Stewart - Along The Road Less Travelled. 5 Stars Scotland on Sunday
This album was recorded in Scotland and Ireland and changes musicians between each country. If it reflects contemporary mores in dressing most of the traditional songs in instrumental accompaniment, a few of the 17 songs are left in all their naked glory (including a sean nos duet with Connemara's Peadar Ceannabhain), while the others benefit from Iain (Glenuig) MacDonald's taste as musician and producer. There's a 36-page sleeve, with atmospheric photographs and full text in Gaelic and English to accompany the music, and rarely heard songs..Norman Chalmers http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/togaidh_mi_mo_sheolta__along_the_road_less_travelled

CD: Bagrock to the Masses - Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Customer Review 5 Stars
As a piper myself, this album is fantastic, brilliant, out of this world, wish my fingers played that well.AS
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/red_hot_chilli_pipers__bagrock_to_the_masses

CD: Legends of Scotland - Calum Kennedy. Customer Review 5 Stars
I searched many sites even going as far as contacting Grampian TV with the hope of getting a hold of some of Calums works impossible until I stumbled across your site. A brilliant CD pity it was not a DVD as he was fantastic on stage and TV and his personality was as great as his singing. IT would be great to watch again some of the eposids of Calums Ceilidh from the late 60's from Grampian..Tommy Soutar
http://www.footstompin.com/products/cds/legends_of_scotland__calum_kennedy

7. FREE Ringtone
We've uploaded a new ringtone from fiddler Jenna Reid's new album Laughing Girl. It features Jenna playing like the true virtuoso she it. Download it here http://www.footstompin.com/downloads

8. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Discussion Forum:
Here are some of the topics under discussion at the moment on our Foot Stompin' Celtic Music Forum. Feel free to join in! http://www.footstompin.com/forum?forumid=3

Fancy Tricks
Has anyone out there listened to the work of spike jones and his city slickers?
I'd love to be involved in such a fabulous novelty act. If you have a set of tuned shotguns or perhaps can imitate big game vocally i'd love to hear from you..
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118543

Celtic Connections on TV ?
According to someone on the BBC forums, "It is highlights from Celtic Connections at the old fruitmarket ,with Bert Jansch, Breabach,Cherryholmes,Balkanopolis,Lisa Knap,Gregor Lawrie with Iain McFarlane and Iain MacDonald".
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118170

"13 golden rules of real Outer Hebridean manhood".
1. You eat the wrapper as well as the black pudding
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118285

9. Events
22nd February: Mod 2008 Fundraising Ceilidh Dance in the Falkirk Polish Club from 7.30pm. Entertainment from John Carmichael Band, Donald MacRae and Mod Gold Medallist Sheena Walker.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118504

22nd - 24th February: 2008 Scottish Harp and Cello Festival is taking place in The College of Piping, Otago Street, Glasgow. Workshops, exhibitions and concerts of Scottish Harp and Cello for near beginner to advanced level.
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118057

1st March - Martyn Bennett Trust fund-raising concert at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, featuring Margaret Bennett, James Ross, Aillie Robertson, Amy Geddes, among others.
Details call: 01875 835229

7th - 9th March: Milnathort Crackin' Ceilidh Weekend. An excellent annual festival. Guests this year include Michael Marra, Gaberlunzie, John Watt, Tich Frier and Neil Paterson.
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/crackinceilidh/Milnathort.html

8th March - TheHighland Annual: Edinburgh's oldest and largest Ceilidh, with four main events happening within Teviot Union, Bristo Square. 9pm-3am. Guests include Fergie MacDonald Band and Deoch 'N' Dorus, Maeve MacKinnon, Raymond Bremner, Norrie MacIver and Pipedown.:
http://www.footstompin.com/public/forum?threadid=118458

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